Acts 21:27-40
Following on John’s comment from yesterday (the parallel between Agabus’ prophecy as to Paul’s danger and Jesus’ prophecy as to His own crucifixion), today I’m thinking of another parallel between Acts and the Gospels: Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. (v. 30a) Here is one of the accounts of Jesus’ arrest: And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas … came up, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs who were from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. (Mark 14:43) Both “mobs” in these two accounts arise from the Jewish leaders – their jealousy of Paul’s and Jesus’ following and their fear for their own loss of power and influence. But then the paths between Paul and Jesus diverge. Paul is now allowed to speak to the crowd while Jesus was simply arrested and taken away. The parallel picks up again later when both Paul and Jesus are brought for trial before the Roman authorities. I wonder how often Paul thought, “This is what happened to Jesus.” If he did think that, then he was consoled that his future was secure – maybe not his earthly future but certainly his heavenly promise.
See also: July 18 / Acts 21:26-40